Windows CE.NET Ported to Xbox

Cutriss writes "Caught this over at Xbox Scene - Windows CE.NET 4.2 has been ported to the Xbox. Artifex, one of the developers of this project, says the following about the status of development: 'The basic kernel subsystem is in place. The IoCtl is about 90% done. ISR/IST is up and working. PCI enumeration happens properly. USB initializes and enumerates devices (but hangs if there's a gamepad connected). Mouse driver loads. Keyboard driver loads but is missing a layout, so it's not quite functional yet. A VERY simple video driver is in place (Software mouse cursor seems to be failing, so you won't see a pointer, yet).' It's a 100% legal distribution, but you'll still need a modded/exploited Xbox in order to run it. Screenshots hosted by Xbox Scene can be found here(1) and here(2)."

Comments

Why?

[Nasarius]

Kudos to the guys who did this, I'm sure it took a lot of work...but do we really need Windows CE on the X-Box? IIRC, Windows 2000 already works, and so does Linux. Is there any specific advantage to CE, aside from its smaller size?

Re:Why?

[fm6]

It's not for anything. It's a cool hack. Why doesn't anybody on Slashdot appreciate these anymore?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Indeed we would. Doing X number of good deeds does not excuse doing Y number of bad deeds.

But why?

[Subnirvana337]

Hasn't this black and green box endured enough ports? Its a computer we get it, when will it stop? When all O/Ss known to man are on xbox?

jeez...someone has waaay too much time on their hands...

Re:But why?

[Obyron]

I'm not saying that their work is in vain, i just don't see the point. If you care to explain it would be much appreciated, instead of calling me an asshole just because I disagree.

A major part of the hacker spirit is not doing something because it's strictly necessary, but doing it because you learn from the experience and ENJOY doing it. For example, I play the guitar. Is it really necessary for me to sit and play when no one else is around? No one will hear it but me. No one is around to enjoy it. It isn't making me any money. I do it because the practice makes me better at it, and because I genuinely enjoy the experience.

If this guy wants to spend his time porting WinCE to the X-Box (a non-trivial) task, then that's his perogative. "The point," as you put it, is that he enjoys doing it. I doubt even 1000 people will ever utilize what he's doing here, but a lesson he learns or a novel hack he comes up with during the process might come in handy to him later when he IS writing something that thousands of people might use.

And if not? At least he enjoyed himself.

Re:XBox Developers Kit is out

[seanvaandering]

"Would you fucking moron moderators do something right.."

I don't recall Slashdot being a software repository, and due to your tone in your "request" - do you actually think that by belittling the moderators, you'll be able to force them to mod up the parent? Lets be realistic for one millisecond here and assume that these are real people on the other end. Now I work helpdesk support for a major ISP, if someone like you ended up calling and I got your call, I'd be "accidentally" hitting the release button on my phone and you can dial back in and wait another hour to talk to someone useful. Belittling anyone on here will get you nothing but a -1 on your posts, no matter how important you think it is.

Maybe you should read the slashdot Moderation Guidelines and learn on how moderation works on here. Knowledge is power.

Re:Wow, I would've never thought it possible

[Doomrat]

Don't be facetious. These guys didn't just stick an installation CD in an X-Box and expect credit for it. They hacked away at a platform which wasn't built for running this sort of thing and succeeded in making a generally useful release, all in their spare time. They don't owe you anything, so until you can come up with something genuinely funny, lay off.

Finally a legal reason to get a modchip!

[samdaone]

'Nuff said

What this means

[phreak03]

Before all the trolls start whine about, "why mod an xbox"
need i remind you that for well under $200
you have
*legaly (sorta)
-divx player with composite outputs.
and support to stream for every major streaming protacal, from your network hard drives

-mp3 jupebox with shoutcast support (xbox media player)
decent ftp server

*illigaly
-a nintendo, SNES, GENesis, gameboy advance, N64 emulator (put a couple thosand games)
-Can copy games to the hard drive and play them
have a nice, cool dedicated linux box running gnetoo, mandrake or one of like 3 decent distros

The hardware is a 733celeron (copermine core, good on power and heat)
64megs of ram shared between apps, and Video ram
a modified Geforce 3 core (good enough)

For those of you that whine, "it can't play burned disks"
either replace the drive, or buy one that has a samsung drive in it, they play all media just about.

Re:Whats the point?

[mabhatter654]

but CE is more suited to the Xbox ecosystem than XP is... you don't need to play games...It's an Xbox, so all you really need is a quick way to get web browsers, email, productiviy apps, etc. I suspect that MS may even look the other way on this one...it would increase Ce share, because you can BUY CD based apps in most computer stores now days! Xbox having a HDD, you'd have something to sync too...for cheap college kids, or teens it'd make a great tool for simple things like email or reports...Xbox can even use PC monitors out-of-the-box with no hacking! Get USB printing and other devices working (remember that CE has some ability to use "normal" Win32 drivers!) and you could even print, scan, digital camera, etc. and you've got decent CE apps to run on it.

I'm only surprised MS hasn't released something like this sooner. That said, using the actual XDK might be useful even with restrictions...I'm sure that XboxOS is VERY CLOSE to WinCE under the hood...probably more than MS would ever admit to. this project may be easier than he's making it!

Re:Wow, I would've never thought it possible

[Anonymous Coward]

I understand this could be considerated as funny, but thats not that much good humor. I mean, this joke show us a link between the skill needed to port a software on a computer which both have been desinged by the same company. The joke is about making fun of the hard work of the guys who ported it, because it was easier than do it from another platform. Come on, this is not funny, at least maybe a little bit insightful (to make us realize the link). Then i have to understand that the moderators were all capable of porting something harder somewhere else.

This is too funny

[TheCabal]

Oh, the hypocricy!

People going on and on about "why bother" porting WinCE to XBox, but ask them the same thing porting Linux to Xbox or other gaming platforms and you best done your asbestos underwear. I guess Slashdotters don't like it when the shoe is on the other hand.